Improvement in processes and apparatus for the manufacture of charcoal



,PATENT QFFIGE.

iLnvnN s.` GooDnrcH, "or WAVERLY, LrnNNEssnn.

IMPROVEMLNT IN PROCESSES AND APPAATS FOR THE MANUFACTURE or cHARcoAL;

Srnomrcnrroiv.

To all whom` it may concern: s y Be it known that; I, `LEVEN S.`Goonn1orr,`

of Waverly, in the l countyof Humphreys and State" of Tennessee, haveinvented anew and useful Apparatus and Process for the Manufacture of Charcoal, of which the following is a specification: y

s Nature and Object..

The object of my invention is to produce anapparatus and process for the manufacture of charcoal by the heat arising from the `combustion of the flammable gases issuing from the wood,'and toprevent as much as possible the destruction of the charcoal thus made-a difficulty manifested *in the usel of the ordinary 4 charcoal-kiln by the presence of atmospheric air. The natureof my invention consists in the construetionofa vertical kiln, having a plunger partially counterbalanced by a hollow pipeor tube lin connection therewith by chains and over-head pulleys in such a manner thatthe `said plunger andpipe are made to reciprocate in opposite directions to each other; the object of which is to produce an automatic air-supply to the kiln for the combustion of the aforesaid ilammable gases and relieve the-charcoal ofthepresence of said air-supply as soon as possible after the gases have escaped. l l

base B. N is alpassage-way giving access to kiln A, or closed by a door or temporary brickwork, as shown. Lis a narrow ssure at the opposite side of the'kiln, provided with glass `M, or other transparent substance, for pre- `venting the atmosphere from entering the i kiln through saidssure, and at the same time permit the operator to observe the Working of the charge. G is a pipe resting upon 0 by means of aiange, and provided at the y bottom with lugs, to which are connected grooved pulleys F F', over which chains E E respectively pass, as shown. H is a reciprocating pipe, suspended by the said chains, and guided in a vertical 'position by Gr and D,

'V through which it freely reciprocates.. D `is'a metallic plate, which freely reciprocates in the kiln A, partially suspended by the reciprocating pipe H in connection therewith by the `chains E E', as shown in the drawing, so that D and-H are compelled to reciprocate in opposite directions. The pipe H supplies the `air to the kiln, receiving it at the top and delivering-it at the bottom in the direction of the arrows, being prevented from escaping directly from the bottom by the stopper I. The

flow of air is regulated by the damper J, while rain is prevented from entering by the cap K. R is the bottom of kiln A, so constructed as to form a funnel, Q, to contain the kindling charcoal, which may be ignited through the pipe S, which connects thereto from the external atmosphere. When desired said funnel also answers to convey to the said pipe S the condensed products thatinvariably collect at the bottom of ordinary kilns, by which means they may easily be disposed of. D is providedl with orifices O, through which the products of combustion pass from the kiln vA to the arch C, from whence they escape through pipe P tothe smoke-stack.

Operation.

The funnel Q is first. iilled with light dry y applied to the charcoal in Q, through the pipe S, to ignite the same; the said pipe S is very soon closed to prevent the admission of air at that point. The heat produced by this combustion distills the wood resting upon the char- 2 remera bottom of pipe H come in contact, so that no I ofthe flammable gaseous products thereof, and

more air is admitted, and the charcoal will begin to cool. The damper J is, however, closed by the operator, and also the end of the pipe 1, so that neither air nor Water lcan find its way to any part ofthe kiln in quantity sufiicient to injure its contents, While the operator is enabled to observe the whole operation and condition, before, and after and While being performed by means of the ssure L and transparent plate M.

lt may be readily seen that the above combin ation will produce an automatic air-supply to carry on the Wood-charring process with less loss of charcoal than that of the ordinary kiln, though in practice it may prove advann tageous to vary the precise construction of kiln above described, and that many other devices may be employed for raising and lowering the pipe H; therefore,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The process above referred to, which consists of a variable air-supply to carry on the process of Woodcharring by the combustion t0 prevent the said air-supply from coming in direct contact with the charcoal produced by the distillation of the Wood by the said combustion.

2. The combination ofthe plateD and the pipe H with chains E E and pulleys F 'F', or their equivalents, for the purpose of automatically adjusting` the air-supply referred to in the first claim, for the purpose therein named and described in the above specification.

3. The combination of the kiln A., bottom R, arch G, base B, pipe S, passage N, fissure L, and glass M, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.

4. l nall y claim the combination of the pipe H, damper J, top K, bottom I, passage N, iissure L, glass M, or its equivalent, plate D, oriices O, pipe P, chains E E', pulleys F F', pipes G, with Jthe kiln A, bottom R, arch C, pipe S, and base B, all as arranged and described, for the purpose set forth.

LEVEN S. GOO'DRIGH.

Vitnesses:

J. G. WINN, DAVID C. Lovn. 

